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BACKGROUND: The Missouri Cancer Registry collects population-based cancer incidence data on Missouri residents diagnosed with reportable malignant neoplasms. The Missouri Cancer Registry wanted to produce data that would be of interest to lawmakers as well as public health officials at the legislative district level on breast cancer, the most common non-skin cancer among females. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to measure and interactively visualize survival data of female breast cancer cases in the Missouri Cancer Registry. METHODS: Female breast cancer data were linked to Missouri death records and the Social Security Death Index. Unlinked female breast cancer cases were crossmatched to the National Death Index. Female breast cancer cases in subcounty senate districts were geocoded using TIGER/Line shapefiles to identify their district. A database was created and analyzed in SEER*Stat. Senatorial district maps were created using US Census Bureau's cartographic boundary files. The results were loaded with the cartographic data into InstantAtlas software to produce interactive mapping reports. RESULTS: Female breast cancer survival profiles of 5-year cause-specific survival percentages and 95% confidence intervals, displayed in tables and interactive maps, were created for all 34 senatorial districts. The maps visualized survival data by age, race, stage, and grade at diagnosis for the period from 2004 through 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Linking cancer registry data to the National Death Index database improved accuracy of female breast cancer survival data in Missouri and this could positively impact cancer research and policy. The created survival mapping report could be very informative and usable by public health professionals, policy makers, at-risk women, and the public.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Many users of spatial data have difficulty interpreting information in health-related spatial reports. The Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC) has produced interactive reports for several years. These reports have never been tested for usability. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to: (1) conduct a multi-approach usability testing study to understand ease of use (user friendliness) and user satisfaction; and (2) evaluate the usability of MCR-ARC's published InstantAtlas reports. METHODS: An institutional review board (IRB) approved mixed methodology usability testing study using a convenience sample of health professionals. A recruiting email was sent to faculty in the Master of Public Health program and to faculty and staff in the Department of Health Management and Informatics at the University of Missouri-Columbia. The study included 7 participants. The test included a pretest questionnaire, a multi-task usability test, and the System Usability Scale (SUS). Also, the researchers collected participants' comments about the tested maps immediately after every trial. Software was used to record the computer screen during the trial and the participants' spoken comments. Several performance and usability metrics were measured to evaluate the usability of MCR-ARC's published mapping reports. RESULTS: Of the 10 assigned tasks, 6 reached a 100% completion success rate, and this outcome was relative to the complexity of the tasks. The simple tasks were handled more efficiently than the complicated tasks. The SUS score ranged between 20-100 points, with an average of 62.7 points and a median of 50.5 points. The tested maps' effectiveness outcomes were better than the efficiency and satisfaction outcomes. There was a statistically significant relationship between the subjects' performance on the study test and the users' previous experience with geographic information system (GIS) tools (P=.03). There were no statistically significant relationships between users' performance and satisfaction and their education level, work type, or previous experience in health care (P>.05). There were strong positive correlations between the three measured usability elements. CONCLUSIONS: The tested maps should undergo an extensive refining and updating to overcome all the discovered usability issues and meet the perspectives and needs of the tested maps' potential users. The study results might convey the perspectives of academic health professionals toward GIS health data. We need to conduct a second-round usability study with public health practitioners and cancer professionals who use GIS tools on a routine basis. Usability testing should be conducted before and after releasing MCR-ARC's maps in the future.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To measure and interactively visualize female breast cancer (FBC) incidence rates in Missouri by age, race, stage and grade, and senate district of residence at diagnosis from 2008 to 2012. METHODS: An observational epidemiological study. The FBC cases in counties split by senate districts were geocoded. Population database was created. A database was created within SEER*Stat. The incidence rates and the 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were age standardized using US 2000 Standard Population. The Census Bureau's Cartographic Boundary Files were used to create maps showing Missouri senate districts. Incidence results were loaded along with the maps into InstantAtlas™ software to produce interactive reports. RESULTS: Cancer profiles were created for all 34 Missouri senate districts. An area profile and a double map that included interactive maps, graphs, and tables for the 34 Missouri senate districts were built. CONCLUSION: The results may provide an estimation of social inequality within the state and could provide clues about the impact of level of coverage and accessibility to screening and health care services on disease prevention and early diagnosis.